Also, I can't make the leaves white since it would just blend straight into the white bar. Nothing would stand out. The only reason they stood out in the original version is because the bar had texture so there was something to separate the leaves (which are on a blending mode btw), but if I make the leaves white, then you'll just see a black drop shadow for nothing in front of it.
You could just let me keep the green bar and then not take that into judgment when you're voting.